Package uk.ac.starlink.fits

## Interface FitsTableSerializer

- All Known Implementing Classes:
    `ColFitsTableSerializer`, `StandardFitsTableSerializer`, `VariableFitsTableSerializer`

      public interface FitsTableSerializer

  Defines an object which can serialize a table to a FITS HDU.
  Since:
    27 Jun 2006
  Author:
    Mark Taylor

- - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method | Description
    --- | --- | ---
    `java.lang.String` | `getBadValue​(int icol)` | Returns the bad value (text of the TNULLnn card), if any, used for a given column.
    `int[]` | `getDimensions​(int icol)` | Returns the dimensions of the items which will be output for a given column.
    `char` | `getFormatChar​(int icol)` | Returns the FITS TFORM letter which describes the type of data output for a given column.
    `nom.tam.fits.Header` | `getHeader()` | Returns a header suitable for the HDU which will contain the table.
    `long` | `getRowCount()` | Returns the number of rows which will be output.
    `void` | `writeData​(java.io.DataOutput out)` | Writes the HDU data for the table to an output stream.

- - ### Method Detail

    - #### getHeader

          nom.tam.fits.Header getHeader()
                                 throws nom.tam.fits.HeaderCardException

      Returns a header suitable for the HDU which will contain the table.
      Returns:
        header object
      Throws:
        `nom.tam.fits.HeaderCardException`

    - #### writeData

          void writeData​(java.io.DataOutput out)
                  throws java.io.IOException

      Writes the HDU data for the table to an output stream.
      Parameters:
        `out` - destination stream
      Throws:
        `java.io.IOException`

    - #### getRowCount

          long getRowCount()

      Returns the number of rows which will be output.
      Returns:
        row count

    - #### getDimensions

          int[] getDimensions​(int icol)

      Returns the dimensions of the items which will be output for a given column. This will be `null` only if that column is not being output. Otherwise it will be a zero-element array for a scalar, 1-element array for a vector, etc.
      Parameters:
        `icol` - column to query
      Returns:
        dimensions array for data in column `icol` or `null` for a column being skipped

    - #### getFormatChar

          char getFormatChar​(int icol)

      Returns the FITS TFORM letter which describes the type of data output for a given column. This is as described by the FITS standard - 'J' for 4-byte integer, 'A' for characters, etc. If the column is not being output, `(char)0` will be returned.
      Parameters:
        `icol` - column to query
      Returns:
        format letter for data in column `icol`, or 0 for a column being skipped

    - #### getBadValue

          java.lang.String getBadValue​(int icol)

      Returns the bad value (text of the TNULLnn card), if any, used for a given column.
      Parameters:
        `icol` - column to query
      Returns:
        blank value string, or null if there is none or the column is being skipped